Page 72 of Raven

We stayed under the spray far too long, grasping, kissing, gasping out promises between tangled limbs and breathless moans. The moment we came together was explosive and tender all at once. I clung to him, lost and found in the same breath.

When the water finally turned lukewarm, he shut it off and wrapped me in a thick towel before lifting me into his arms again.

“From now on, this is your home,” he said with a crooked smile. “You’re mine now. All night. All weekend. For the rest of our lives.”

I didn’t argue.

He carried me to his bed and laid me down like I was precious. And then he made love to me again—slower this time, with kisses between every whispered word, his touch reverent and grounding.

He worshipped me with his hands, his mouth, his body. And I let him. I gave him every inch of me.

I had never felt so completely seen… so completely his.

* * *

The sun pouredthrough the windows the next morning, warming the sheets. Raven’s arm was draped around my waist, his hand splayed across my stomach. I was tucked against him, one of his legs tangled with mine, his breathing steady and deep.

For a minute, I lay there, soaking in how he smelled—like cedar and skin and something purely him. His face was relaxed in sleep, and the hard lines around his mouth softened. It was rare to see him like this—vulnerable, peaceful.

I could get used to waking up like this.

Eventually, he stirred and kissed my neck. “Mornin’, sweetheart.”

I smiled sleepily. “Morning.”

He shifted to press a kiss to my shoulder. “Don’t move. You’re my personal heater.”

“We should eat.”

“Later,” he mumbled into my skin, pulling me closer. “We have time.”

And for once… we did.

* * *

Two hours later—dressed,showered again (with slightly more restraint), and sipping coffee—I followed Raven into the Golden Team’s ops room. Tag, Gage, Cyclone, and Faron were gathered around the table. The mood was sharp, focused. I walked back to the offices to visit Kat in her office, but I could still hear them talking.

River appeared on the big screen in front of them via video call, his tone clipped. I remember hearing that he was out of the country, and Kat said he had better hurry and get back home. “New intel just came through. There’s a situation in South Africa. There's a human trafficking cell, heavily armed. The local government has eyes on it but needs outside assistance.”

“South Africa?” Faron leaned forward. “What’s the risk level?”

“High. These guys are ex-mercenaries. You will go in dressed and loaded for combat. But you won’t be going in for combat, you are going in for a rescue.”

Cyclone nodded.

Raven glanced at Cyclone, then turned back to the team. “I’ll sit this one out. I just got back, and River already signed off on my downtime,” Raven said.

River nodded. “That’s right. Cyclone, Faron—you’re up. The thing is, there are three Nuns you need to rescue. You leave in eight hours. Tag and Gage, you’re on standby.”

Cyclone groaned. “Nuns.” He shook his head like he was asked to find the deadliest snakes you could find.

Faron gave a lazy grin. “Finally get to stretch my legs.”

Cyclone just nodded, always the calm one before the storm.

The moment the call ended, Raven pushed away from the table and caught my eye. “I meant it, you know. I’m not going anywhere for a while. You and me—we’ve got some catching up to do.”

I smiled and crossed to him, sliding my arms around his waist. “So what now?”

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